THE MINUTES OF THE 287th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 7 February 1985 F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: F. Otto Haas, Chairman Janet S. Klein, Vice Chairman Edward Pinkowski Dudley Sykes, Commissioner, Department of Public Property Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Kenneth Cooper, Esq., Deputy City Solicitor, Law Department Richard Tyler, Historian Randal Baron, Executive Secretary Also: Harry Fertik, Owner of 243 S. Quince Street/222 S. Jessup Street Diane Fertik, Owner of 243 S. Quince Street/222 S. Jessup Street John Francis Marion Ruth Brown William Whiting Lenore Mullholien Patrick Starr Jefferson Moak Mary Lou McFarland, Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and others Unless otherwise noted, all actions taken herein are the results of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. Owing to there being numerous persons in attendance at the meeting concerned with 243 S. Quince Street/222 S. Jessup Street, the Chairman directed that the Report of the Architectural Committee be discussed first. THE REPORT of the Architectural Committee for 16 January 1985, Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Chairman. Mr. Levy presented to the Historical Commission for consideration the Report of the Architectural Committee for 16 January 1985. He proposed the approval of the minutes of that meeting with the removal of two items, 243 S. Quince/222 S. Jessup Streets and the plaque application for 1025 Westview Street. The Report was reviewed and approved. Mr. Levy reviewed the matter of 243 S. Quince/222 S. Jessup Streets. His comments included a description of the recommendation of the 16 May 1934 Architectural Committee meeting, approved at the 7 June 1984 Commission meeting, to link the two properties with the erection of a two story L and a one story kitchen/passageway. In as much as this proposal entailed some intrusion into the yard between the buildings, resulting in a technical violation of the zoning requirements of the Center City Plan, the applicant applied to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a STATED MEETING 2 7 February 1985 variance. The Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to deny the variance. The owners successfully requested a rehearing and sought to demonstrate to the Board and opponents in the neighborhood the massing, bulk and site coverage for an addition to 243 S. Quince Street that would conform to the code. As part of this demonstration, they applied for a demolition permit for 222 S. Jessup Street. At its meeting of 16 January
to the Board and opponents in the neighborhood the massing, bulk and site coverage for an addition to 243 S. Quince Street that would conform to the code. As part of this demonstration, they applied for a demolition permit for 222 S. Jessup Street. At its meeting of 16 January 1985 the Architectural Committee reviewed the Fertiks demolition application. The Committee recommended that the six month moratorium provided by the ordinance not be applied in this instance. The Committee reasoned that the six month delay is designed to provide an opportunity to devise an alternative to demolition. The proposal approved by the Commission in June represents, in the view of the Committee, a sensitive preservation alternative. The Zoning Board's denial of a variance to the Fertiks would give to the six month moratorium a punitive quality. Mr. Fertik made a brief presentation of his proposal to demolish 222 S. Jessup Street and building an addition to 243 S. Quince Street that would conform with the open space requirements of the Zoning Code. He emphasized, however, that he preferred the proposal as approved in June and now sought the demolition permit to afford flexibility in resolving the issue. Mr. Krakower spoke in opposition to both the proposed demolition of 222 S. Jessup Street and the earlier alteration proposal. Responding to a request by Mr. Beckman to explain his objections to the earlier linkage proposal, Mr. Krakower voiced three objections: 1) that the alteration would take up much valued open space on the lots, 2) that the alteration, particularly the sliding glass doors were inappropriately designed and 3) that the unique ambience of the area would be lost. Mr. Pinkowski questioned Mr. Krakower and rebutted the three points explaining that the alterations would be largely hidden from public view by a pre-existing garden wall. Mr. Krakower finished by submitting newspaper clippings to the Commission which he felt emphasized the special character of the Quince/Jessup neighborhood. He asked that although the new ordinance does not take effect until 1 April 1985, the Commission honor the intent of the law and impose the six month moratorium on demolition. Lenore Mullhollen of the Preservation Coalition briefly voiced her desire to see the six month moratorium on demolition imposed. STATED MEETING 3 7 February 1985 Herb Levy proposed that the matter of 243 S. Quince Street/ 222 S. Jessup Street be tabled until after the decision
month moratorium on demolition. Lenore Mullhollen of the Preservation Coalition briefly voiced her desire to see the six month moratorium on demolition imposed. STATED MEETING 3 7 February 1985 Herb Levy proposed that the matter of 243 S. Quince Street/ 222 S. Jessup Street be tabled until after the decision of the Zoning Board of Adjustment on the Fertiks appeal for a variance. The motion was unanimously carried. The Commission then took up the matter of a plaque for 1025 Westview Street. The pictures of the building were distributed and the Commission members voted to approve a restored plaque for the property. THE MINUTES of the 286th Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission held on 3 January 1985 were reviewed and approved with the following substitution. At Janet Klein's request the passage "The Commission members asked that the Historian write to Mayor Coode and urge that he appoint the members of the Historical Commission as soon as possible" was substituted by "The Historian suggested that new members of the Commission should have the opportunity to study the work of the Commission prior to their induction in April 1985. The Commission, at Mr. Tyler's suggestion, agreed that a letter be drafted to Mayor Goode recommending that new members be appointed before April." THE REPORT on Philadelphia Historical Commission Staff Activities for January 1985 was reviewed and approved. NEW BUSINESS Biographical Dictionary of Philadelphia Architects. Mr. Tyler requested the Commission's permission to purchase The Biographical Dictionary of Philadelphia Architects using monies from the Harry Batten Fund. Janet Klein kindly offered to give the book to the Commission as a gift. Penn Square Building. Mary Lou McFarland of the Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia submitted a certification application for the Penn Square Building at the corner of Juniper and Filbert Streets and urged that the Commission act quickly to certify the building in light of the City's plan to demolish the structure. The Commission accepted the application and referred it to the Committee on Certification. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:3. p.m. Respectfully submitted, Randal Baron Executive Secretary